Rathgall Hillfort
Bronze Age hill fort in Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rathgall (Irish: An Ráth Gheal[2]), or the Ring of the Rath, is a large multivallate hill fort in County Wicklow, Ireland.[3] Dating from the Bronze Age, it consists of three roughly concentric stone ramparts with a fourth masonry wall dating from the Medieval period at its centre.[4] Rathgall is a National Monument which is in state care.[5] It is 5 km east of Tullow.
| Rathgall Hill Fort | |
|---|---|
| An Ráth Gheal | |
Aerial view of the fort | |
 Interactive map of Rathgall Hill Fort | |
| Type | Multivallate hill fort |
| Periods | Bronze Age |
| Location | County Wicklow, Province of Leinster |
| History | |
| Built | 1200-900BC |
| Site notes | |
| Width | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Area | 7.5 ha (19 acres) |
| Excavation dates | 1969 |
| Condition | Partially preserved |
| Owner | Public |
| Public access | Yes |
Official name | Rathgall |
| Reference no. | 422[1] |
Excavations (1969-1975) led by Barry Raftery of the site are only partial,[6] but yielded numerous artefacts including ceramic vessels, pot sherds and glass beads, which point to the middle to late Bronze Age activity on the site. A large circular, post-built building (15m, 48 ft diameter) stood within the forts enclosing ditch.[7] A number of gold items have been found at the site also, as well as a burial site linked with later use of the site.[4] Evidence of metal working comes from casts for tools and weapons,[8] with burials pointing to a ritual element to the site beyond its agricultural and domestic use.[9] Finds at the site include: 96 glass beads, ornaments of gold, jet, amber, and lignite. Other finds include: tools, a sword blade, a spearhead and a socketed axe head. An early Iron Age iron smelting furnace was found along with evidence of a Medieval era house, coins and potshards.[10]
There are numerous legends that are associated with the site including fairies and as a site of pilgrimage for childless couples.[11]